Klamath Falls Airport control tower on closure list

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The Klamath Falls Airport is on the list of the Federal Aviation Administrations potential control tower closures. It is one of five small airports in Oregon on the list for potential control tower closings under the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

The FAA says they are among 238 small airports under consideration nationwide with low traffic volumes and control towers operated by contractors.

The FAA is to make a decision by March 18 on closing about 170 of them.

The other Oregon airports are in North Bend, Pendleton, Salem and Troutdale.

If the towers close, the FAA says the airports will remain open. But pilots would be responsible for their own safety by talking to each other, instead of the tower.

The FAA has to cut $600 million under sequestration. Other savings will come from furloughing FAA employees and other actions.